PU Luggage Wheel,PU Luggage Wheels,Coloful luggage wheel,quiet luggage wheel Zilon , https://www.gdzilon.com
The Daily Herald recently covered a critical referendum happening in Antioch. The story highlights the financial struggles faced by the local fire department and the urgent need for a new funding mechanism to sustain ambulance and rescue services for the town's approximately 27,000 residents.
According to Antioch Fire Chief John Nixon, the current system of relying on cash reserves to finance these essential services is unsustainable. He explained that the Antioch Fire Department and the First Fire Protection District have been hemorrhaging funds, prompting the need for a dedicated property tax specifically earmarked for emergency medical services. This new tax would mirror the existing rate used to support fire services.
"If we don't find a way to properly fund EMS services, we'll either need to explore alternative funding sources or significantly reduce our response capabilities," Chief Nixon stated. The fire department currently handles around 2,000 rescue calls annually across its three stations.
The upcoming November 4 ballot includes targeted referendum questions—one for village residents and another for those in the surrounding Antioch Township. These questions propose creating a new property tax rate of 25 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation to cover ambulance and rescue services. For homeowners with properties valued at $100,000, this would equate to roughly $83 in annual taxes during the first year. If approved, the new tax could generate about $1.5 million annually, primarily allocated toward personnel and equipment maintenance, with some funds set aside for future capital replacement projects.
The urgency of this issue became apparent in May when the Antioch Rescue Squad, which had been providing service for 75 years without a tax rate, was not re-contracted. Following this, fire district officials decided to consolidate all rescue and ambulance calls under the unified command of the Antioch Fire Department.
Since taking over these calls, the fire district has spent two-thirds of its cash reserves to maintain the operations, which cost approximately $35,000 per month. Chief Nixon noted that while minor adjustments might occur if voters approve the measures, significant service cuts would be unavoidable if the referendum fails.
In the event of a rejection by village residents, Antioch Trustee Dennis Crosby indicated that budgetary sacrifices would have to be made elsewhere, as funds would need to be diverted from the general fund—a move that could compromise other critical village services. Similarly, a failure at the township level would almost certainly lead to reduced ambulance and rescue services, as township supervisor Steve Smouse pointed out. "You can't operate an ambulance service without funding," he remarked. "If it doesn't pass, they'll have to figure out how to do it cheaper."
Chief Nixon further elaborated that township residents might notice fewer paramedics stationed at fire district facilities, leading to longer wait times for ambulances. In such a scenario, the fire district might need to contract with a more expensive private service provider, increasing operational costs and shifting the burden onto users.
This referendum is pivotal for the community's future safety and well-being. While the proposed tax may seem burdensome, many believe it represents a necessary investment in maintaining reliable emergency services. The stakes are high, and the outcome will undoubtedly shape the landscape of public safety in Antioch for years to come.